BYCU
Should I even do a BYCU during Advent? If you're a typical American and jumping the celebratory gun, you're probably confronted with drinking opportunities throughout the week. And if you're properly awaiting the birth of Our Savior with quiet expectation and patience, you're not in the drinking mood. But if you're like me, you're probably playing the typical American, while (kinda) behaving like a devout Catholic, so you're straddling. If that's the case, Friday night drinking is a good compromise, so I'll continue with them.
Gift Idea
Collapsible Shot Glass. $8. Why do you need one? Here's why: "What happens when you're at your favorite fan convention, gaming and schmoozing, and someone whips out a bottle of something delicious? You, geek friend, will be prepared if you have the collapsible shot glass on your person. Just pop it open and you're ready to imbibe just over 2 ounces of whatever liquid heaven is being poured." I suppose it doesn't hurt, and it's definitely a neat novelty gift.
The Trend Continues
More and more people are brewing their own. It's a good thing. I think brewing can be classified as a "little art," along the lines of cooking and good conversation. The more people to do it, the better. A TDE reader sends this piece from Ohio, indicating that our Buckeye friends are taking the brewing thing seriously. Excerpt:
Ohio-made beer is hot.
So are wine, mead and spirits.
Small breweries, wineries and distilleries are popping up at a record pace across Ohio.
And many, many more are on the way, as passionate amateurs are turning their alcohol-making hobbies into full-time professions. Fueled by the buy local and local food movements, many of these small businesses are riding a wave of sentiment against big, national brands.
The Ohio Department of Liquor Control handed out more alcohol-manufacturing permits in the first six months of this year than it did all of last year.
The number of distilleries – making anything from whiskey to vodka to gin – nearly doubled from eight to 14. Meanwhile, brewery and winery permits jumped 18 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
There are now 70 licensed beer manufacturers and 164 wine makers in the state. Five years ago, there were only 44 beer makers and 114 wine makers.
